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Lift fan with diffuser duct

a technology of diffuser and lift fan, which is applied in the direction of airflow influencer, vertical landing/take-off aircraft, transportation and packaging, etc., can solve the problem of difficulty in providing a lift fan with adequate performance and efficiency in a compact packag

Active Publication Date: 2022-06-07
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

One problem with existing lift fans is that it is difficult to provide a lift fan with adequate performance and efficiency in a compact package.

Method used

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  • Lift fan with diffuser duct
  • Lift fan with diffuser duct
  • Lift fan with diffuser duct

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0017]Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary lift fan 10. As used herein, the term “lift fan” refers to a thrust-producing structure which is suitable for providing direct lift of the vehicle or similar purposes. This may alternatively be referred to herein as a “hover fan”. It will be understood that the principles described herein are equally applicable to fans which merely provide supplemental lift or maneuvering control, as well as fans capable of providing sufficient thrust to allow a vehicle to hover and / or climb. In the illustrated example, the lift fan 10 includes a single rotor 12.

[0018]The rotor 12 is drivingly coupled to a prime mover 14 which may be any device operable to rotate the rotor 12 at the required speed under expected mechanical and aerodynamic loads. Nonlimiting examples of prime movers include heat engines, motors (e.g. electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic)...

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PUM

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Abstract

A lift fan apparatus includes: a rotor having at least one rotatable hub carrying at least one row of blades; a duct surrounding the rotor, the duct including spaced-apart peripheral walls extending between an inlet and an exit, the peripheral walls collectively defining a flow channel which includes a diffuser disposed downstream of the rotor, in which a flow area at the exit is greater than a flow area at the rotor; and a plurality of spaced-apart splitters disposed in the diffuser, each of the splitters having opposed side walls extending between an upstream leading edge and a downstream trailing edge, wherein the splitters divide the diffuser into a plurality of side-by-side flow passages.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to vehicle propulsion, and more specifically to lift fans.[0002]Propellers and fans are commonly used to provide propulsion for aircraft. A fan includes a number of airfoil-shaped blades attached to a hub which is rotated by a prime mover in order to generate thrust.[0003]There is a desire to produce aircraft capable of multiple modes of flight including vertical takeoff, hovering, and conventional flight at high subsonic speeds. Such aircraft typically include fixed wings in addition to or more direct lift or powered lift devices which produce thrust directed in a downward direction, generating a lift force at low or zero forward horizontal velocity.[0004]Various direct lift or powered lift means are known, e.g. lift fans or hover fans. Good efficiency in hover is achieved by generating thrust with a large volume of airflow accelerated by a small velocity delta, as in a helicopter. One problem with existing lift fans...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B64C11/00B64C29/00
CPCB64C29/0025B64C11/001B64C27/20B64C23/00B64U50/14
Inventor BREEZE-STRINGFELLOW, ANDREWTWEEDT, DANIEL LAWRENCEKHALID, SYED ARIFMURROW, KURT DAVID
Owner GENERAL ELECTRIC CO